Premier League champions Liverpool have made a £9 million (Dh43m) bid for Real Betis' Algerian defender Aissa Mandi.
Following Dejan Lovren's move from Liverpool to Russian league winners Zenit St Petersburg for £11m, Mandi has reportedly been identified as the Croatian's replacement.
Mandi has a £25m buyout clause in his contract, but with just one year of his deal remaining, the Daily Mirror reports that Liverpool are confident of completing a cut-price move.
Betis have reportedly responded to Liverpool and are willing to let Mandi leave for an additional £1.8m.
Having come through the ranks at French club Reims and after playing seven seasons in the first team, Mandi moved to Betis in 2016 and has been a mainstay in the Spanish side's defence.
Predominantly a centre-back, 28-year-old Mandi can operate at right-back, so would provide additional cover to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Mandi is also an established member of the Algeria national team, starring for the Desert Foxes at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and helping them win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title.
Should Mandi seal a move to Liverpool, he will become the second active Algerian in the Premier League alongside Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez.
Algerian striker Said Benrahma could also soon be in the Premier League if Brentford win Tuesday's Championship play-off final against Fulham.
